UN chief: Russia still has ‘different position’ on what is happening in Ukraine

U.N. Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres stated Tuesday that regardless of two months of worldwide sanctions and condemnation for its invasion of Ukraine, Russia nonetheless has a “completely different place” on what is occurring within the war-torn nation. 

Guterres made the comment in Moscow after assembly with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov. He’s anticipated to fulfill with Russian President Vladimir Putin later at the moment earlier than going to Ukraine on Thursday to speak with its chief, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

“I had a really frank dialogue with the Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov and it’s clear there are two completely different positions on what is occurring in Ukraine,” Guterres stated in entrance of Lavrov and reporters in Moscow.  

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“In accordance with the Russian Federation what’s happening is a particular army operation with the targets that had been introduced,” he continued. “In accordance with the U.N. in step with resolutions handed by the overall meeting, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of its territorial integrity and in opposition to the constitution of the United Nations.” 

Guterres stated “at the moment, throughout the Donbas [in Ukraine], a violent battle is underway with large deaths and destruction.  

“Many civilians are being killed and a whole bunch of hundreds of persons are in life-threatening situations, trapped by the battle,” he added. 

Lavrov, left, meets Guterres, proper, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 26.

Guterres additionally proposed Tuesday the formation of a “humanitarian contact group” that may facilitate protected evacuations of Ukrainians trapped in cities like Mariupol, the place officers have stated as much as 1,000 civilians are hiding contained in the Azovstal metal manufacturing unit. 

“My proposal is for the coordinated work of the United Nations, the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross and Ukraine and Russian Federation forces to allow the protected evacuation of these civilians who need to depart each contained in the Azovstal plant and within the metropolis in any course they select and to ship humanitarian support required,” he stated. 

Ukraine needs the U.N. “to be the initiator and guarantor of the humanitarian hall from Azovstal for civilians,” Reuters quoted Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk as saying Monday.